Billiard-table.



A. F. HJOR-T. BILLIARD TABLE. APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 3, 1914,

Patented Dec. 1, 1914 III i A. F. HJORT. BILLIARD TABLE. APPLICATIONFILED AUG. 3, 1914.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL F. I-IJORT, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0BRUivswIcK-BALKE-coLLnNnER GO., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BILLIARD -TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 3, 1914. Serial No. 854,827.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AxEL .F. .HJORT, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of .the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBilliard-Tables;- and I do hereby declare that 'the, followingdescription of my said invention, taken in connection with theaccompanying sheetof drawings, forms a full,

clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled intheart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates. generally to improvements in billiard tables,and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar combination ofparts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forthand described and then claims.

Inthe drawings already referred to, which serve to illustrate my saidinvention more fully, Figure 1 is'a fragmental plan of a convertiblecarom-pocket billiard table, disclosing one corner thereof withcushionspositioned as for a pocket table and the opposite lateral corner thereofwith a carom table cushion arrangement. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of acushion and cushion stripv for either a pocket or carom table in whichare embodied elements of my invention. By. rear elevation is meant therear face which is, when in position, against the inner face of thecushion rail. Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical section of the just aboveindicated members, taken in line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view ofa cushion rail embodying my invention. Fig. 5 isan elevation of theinner face of said cushion rail and is taken in the direction of thearrow pointer 5 in Fig. 4.. By inner face'is meant that face of thecushion rail which is adjacent to the slate bed when in place 'on abilliard table. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail hereinafterreferred to. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan of a cushion rail and a cushionstrip and cushion located adjacent thereto,-

illustrating quick acting holding means therefor, in released position,which devices embody my invention. Fig.8 is a similar view butdisclosingthe holding means in operative position, tightly holding the cushion andcushion strip to the cushion rail. Fig. 9 1s a transverse, vertlcalsection pointed out in the in line 99 of. Fig. 7, the section of thecushion strip and cushion, however, being ellminated. Fig. 10 is atransverse, vertical section in line l010 of Fig. 8, the dotted parts.in said figure being intended to indicate the relative position of saidfigure with respect to a table bed and frame, which latter are shown indotted lines. Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section ofa cushion railprovided with a slightly modified type of cushion strip and cushionholding means. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the holdingfingers employed in my invention.

Like parts are indicated by corresponding characters or symbols ofreference in all the figures of the drawings.

The use and employment of billiard tables provided with an extra set ofcushions whereby the former may be converted from a pocket billiards toa carom billiards table and vice versa is now so well known as to needno further dilation thereupon. Suffice it then to say that thisinvention concerns itself with quick actingmeans for facilitating therapid removal of a set of one type of cushions and cushion strips andthe equally rapid replacement of a set of the othertype; it beingunderstood that simplicity of construction and cheapness of manufactureare important essentials of my invention. 1 1

To now better understand my invention, I first refer to Fig. l which isa fragmental plan of a convertible table desig.

carom table. And it is now to be noted that in the interchangefrom thecushions S to those designated S neither the pockets P nor the pocketirons P" are in any way disturbed. In the plan, Fig. 1 already referredto, T indicates the longitudinal and T the lateral or end cushion rails.

In Fig. 31 indicate a vertical cross section of the cushion and strip S,but I desire to call attention to the fact that all cushions and stripsSand S are alike in cross section and mechanical elements, the only.difierence being in the length and a slight change in the level in theends thereof, so

while the opposite lat-' that when the member S is referred. to herein,the member S is indicated as well. These same remarks apply to thecushion rails T and T. In Fig. 3, 10 indicates the cushion proper and 10the backing or cushion strip therefor, to which said cushion is securelyglued or cemented. It is to be un derstood that the cushion 10 is arubber compound and it and the strip 10 are enveloped by a tensely drawnstrip of billiard cloth 11, the free edges of which are tacked to therear face of cushion strip 10 along the upper and lower edges thereof bysuitable tacks 12. Gained in the rear face of said cushion strip aboutmedially of the width thereof and extending its entire edge of groove 13and are of greater depth,

all clearly seen in Fig. 3; and it'will be'observed that all but thelower portions of these depressions are covered by the metallic strip orbar 14.

In Figs. iand 5 are illustrated the cushion rails T which are fastenedto the table 1 A, or rather the slate bed 100 thereof, by

means of tap bolts and nuts 101 and 102 in the usual manner as indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 10. The ends of these cushion rails T are cutaway, curved, and fitted as at 110 for the reception ofthe ends of thepocket irons and pockets P and P and as they are of typical design nofurther description is necessary. Formed on the inner face of thiscushion rail T, of like spacing and positioning as the depressions 16 oncushion strip S, are flat bottomed recesses or depressions 20,along thevertical marginal walls of which are provided depressions .21 and 21 oflesser depth for the reception of sheet metallic angle plates 22, thelower and shorter legs 23 of which extend outwardly and'contiguous tothe lower edge of the cushion rail T and are fixed thereto by screws 24:or similar means, the upper ends of said plates being attached toandrendered flush with the inner edge of the cushion rail by screws 25.

At the upper ends of the angle plates 22 are produced cut cuts 26 of afacial width 1 equal to the width of depressions 20 and of a depth topermit of the free reception therein of the neck 27 of a depending lever28, between the upper edge of said depressions 20 and the edge of cutout 26. In the lower and shorter leg 28, and extending a slight distanceinto the vertical member 22 is punched a slot 29 of similar width'toslot 26, the purpose of which is to permit the eXitof the lower end 28of lever 28, and v to allow of a certain amount of movement thereof asindicated in Figs. 9 and 10.

Depending lever 28 already referred to comprises essentially aperpendicular member 30 having the outwardly extending horizontallydisposed neck 27 which terminates in an upwardly projecting finger 31.In the face of the member 30 a short distance below the neck 27 there isa short maintain the protuberance or pivotal point 32 in contact withthe inner face of the angle 22. The result of this pressure has twoeffects; first, that of maintaining the finger 31' away as far aspossible from the inner face of the cushion rail T and, second, I

by reason ofthe pivotal point or'protuberance 82', causing the lower end28 of the lever 28 to assume a position adjacent thelower, bottom edgeof the depression 20 asshown in Fig. 9. t

It is now to be noted that if a movement 1 of the lower end 28 of lever28 toward the wall 22 be initiated, the finger 31 will be caused toapproach the'inner face of the cushion rail T in an evident manner. Toaccomplish this movement of the lower end 28 of lever 28 there isprovided an cecentric lever 410, pivoted by a screw 11 in the lower leg23 aforementioned, and arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, with itseccentric surface 42 in contact with the lower end of lever 28. It isevident that partial rotation of eccentric lever 40 in one or the otherdirection' will impart corresponding movement to the lower endof lever28. A marginal fingerfiange -13 is provided for said eccentric leverforease of manipulation, and, in v Fig. 11,'is disclosed a modification ofsaid lever, the operationof which is self-evident- The operation of mydevice may now be described as follows: Assuming the parts to be in theposition indicated inFigs. 7 and 9, the cushion with its cushionstrip10v possessed of the recesses 16 is placed with its rear face adjacentthe inner face of the cushion rail Tand the fingers 31 caused to entertheir respective recesses 16 by pressing down upon the cushion'andcushion strip until the same is'i n contact with the billiard cloth: 50upon the slate, bed indicated in Fig. 10. Each of the levers 40 is nowpartially rotated-until eachof the fingers 31 tightly grip the cushionstrip and main-.

self by or permitted under tain the same against the cushion rail bypressure of contact. When properly adjusted and in operative position asjustkdescribed, it will be found thatthe finger flanges 43 are in aplane, parallel to the outer, lower, longitudinal edge ofv the cushionrails in a pdsition practically out of sight and out'of the way ofplayers on the table.

I Vhile herein I have disclosed the preferred mode of practising myinvention, I desire it understood that I may make such changes andalterations therein as might suggest themselves to the skilled mechanicthe doctrine of equivalents.

Having thus fully described by invention I claim as new and desire tosecure to my- Letters Patent of the United States 1. A fastening meansincluding a cushion and cushion strip or the like, there being receivingdevices in the rear face of said strip, a cushion rail having dependinglevers therein, coacting with said receiving devices, and means foractuating said levers.

2. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being receiving devices in the rear face of said strip, a cushionrail having depending levers freely movable and vibratable therein, 00-acting with said receiving devices, and means for actuating said levers.

3. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or, the like,there being receiving devices in the rear face of said strip, a cushionrail having depending levers freely movable thereinand vibratable abouta protuberance onsaid levers, co-acting with said receiving devices, andmeans for actuating said levers.

4. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being receiving devices in said strip, a cushion rail havingdepending levers therein, the upper portion of said levers projectingbeyond the face of said rail and co-acting with said re ceiving devices,and the lowerportion thereof extending below said cushion rail, andmeans on the lower face of said rail actuating said levers. i

5. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being receiving d i in said strip, a cushion rail having freelymovable and vibratable depending levers therein, the upper portion.

of said levers projecting beyond the face of said rail and co-actingwith said receiving devices, and the lower portion thereof extendingbelow said cushion rail, and means on the lower face of saidrailactuating said levers. I

6. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being receiving devices in said strip,a cushion rail vices, andthe lower portion thereof extendhaving depending levers freely movabletherein and vibratable about a protuberance on said levers, the upperportion of said levers projecting beyond the face of said rail andco-acting with said receiving de ing below said'cushion rail, and meanson the lower face of said rail actuating said levers. 1

7. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being flush receiving devices in the rear face of said strip, acushion rail having interior depending levers possessed of grippingfingers projecting beyond said rail and adapted to engage said receivingdevices, and means on said rail actuating said depending levers.

8. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being flush'receiving devices in the rear face of said strip, acushion rail having interior de pending levers freely movable andvibratable therein, possessed of gripping fingers projecting beyond saidrail and adapted to engage said receiving devices, and means on saidrail actuating said depending levers.

9. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being flush receiving devices in the rear face of said strip, acushion rail having interior depending levers freely movable therein andvibratable about a protuberance on said levers and possessed of grippingfingers projecting beyond said rail and adapted to en- I gage saidreceiving devices, and means on said rail actuating said dependinglevers. 10. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip orthe like, there being receiving devices in the rear face of said strip,a cushion rail having depending levers therein co-acting with saidreceiving devices, and eccentric levers operating in a horizontal planeadapted to actuate said levers.

11. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being receiving devices in the rear face of said strip, a cushionrail having depending levers freely movable and vibratable thereinco-acting with said receiving devices, and eccentric levers operating ina horlzontal plane adapted to actuate said levers.

12. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being receiving devices in the rear face of said strip, a cushionrail having depending levers freely movable therein and vibratable abouta protuberance on said levers, co-acting with said receiving devices,and eccentric levers operating in a horizontal plane adapted to actuatesaid levers.

13. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or the like,there being receiving devices in said strip, a cushion rail havingdepending levers therein, the upper portion of said levers projectingbeyond said rail and co-acting with said receiving devices, and thelower portion thereofextending below said cushion rail, and eccentriclevers on the lower face of said rail, operating in a horizontal planeto actuate said levers.

14;. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip or thelike, there being receiving devices in said strip, a cushion rail havingfreely movable and vibratable depending levers therein, the upperportion of said levers projecting beyond said rail and co-acting withsaid receiving devices, and the lower portion thereof extending belowsaid cushion rail, and eccentric levers on the lower face of said rail,operating in a horizontal. plane to actuate said levers.

'15. A fastening means including a cushion and cushion strip orlthelike, there being receiving devices in said strip, a cushion railhavingdepending levers freely movable therein and vibratable about aprotuberance on said levers, the upper portion of said leversprojectingibeyond said rail and cowitnesses.

AXEL F. HJORT. In the presence of JOHN EHRENPREIs,

A. R. KIDD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

hereunto set

